Southwest Mississippi Community College, a public institution, offers academic, career, and continuing education. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredits this college to award the associate degree. Though the conception of Southwest Mississippi Community College began in 1908, the state enacted legislation on 1916. It provides postsecondary, certificate or diploma awards on programs like automotive mechanics technology, criminal justice, liberal arts and sciences, management information systems, robotics technology, and welding technology among others.